Mexican Marine Life Conservation Reserve Created

A massive marine reserve has been allocated around the Revillagigedo Archipelago, a group of volcanic islands on the South West coast (242 miles (390 km) south-west of the Baja California peninsula).

Home to a vast range of species, including giant ray, sharks, whales and turtles, as well as hundreds of species of fish, the reserve is an attempt to reverse the immense damage done by commercial fishing.

At approximately 57,000 square miles (150,000km), this has become the largest protection zone in North America.

The Revillagigedo islands are home to almost 400 fish species, including bluefin trevally and leather bass. Photograph: Ullstein Bild/Getty Images / The Guardian

Enrique Peña Nieto, the Mexican President, announced the measure, which also includes a ban on mining and the construction of new hotels on the islands, in a speech made on Saturday last. Citing preservation as a top priority, the move has been welcomed by conservationists and scientists alike.

‘Mario Gómez, executive director of Beta Diversidad ― which along with Pew and other groups had supported the reserve’s creation ― called Revillagigedo “the crown jewel of Mexican waters.”

“We are proud of the protection we will provide to marine life in this area, and for the preservation of this important center of connectivity of species migrating throughout the Pacific,” Gómez said in a statement. ‘ (Sc. The Huffington Post)

The move follows the declaration of the Pacific Ocean site as a UNESCO world heritage area last year.

Colin J McCracken is a content designer, editor and writer from Ireland. Giving form and function to the My Good Planet vision, it has been his role to design and develop the online platform, content and presence of the project.